JPH10239561A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of part items of an optical connector and improve the connection accuracy of optical fibers. SOLUTION: This connector 20 is constituted of a holder 21 and a plug 22 connected to the holder 21 so that the connection end faces 8 of their ferrules 2 are butted together when the plug 22 is inserted into the insertion port 23a of an outer housing 24 forming the holder 21. The holder 21 is constituted of the cylindrical outer housing 23 and an inner housing 24 provided with an energizing means 26 energizing the ferrule 2 stored in an inner storage space in the butting direction to the ferrule 2 of the plug 22. Elastic pawls 27 retaining the ferrule 2 of the plug 22 when the holder 21 is connected to the plug 22 and maintaining the butted state of both ferrules 2 are formed respectively, and the inner housing 24 is formed with a pair of halved housing members 25 forming a storage space capable of storing the ferrules 2 when they are combined.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector, and more particularly to an optical connector in which ferrules for terminating the ends of optical fibers are internally provided. The present invention relates to an optical connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an optical connector for switchably connecting optical fibers to each other, for example, a plastic multi-core optical connector (so-called MT type optical connector: Mechanically Transferable) as stipulated in JIS C 5981 or the like.
Is provided. FIG. 6 shows an example of the MT optical connector. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical fiber (tape core), 2 denotes a ferrule (optical connector plug), 3 denotes a boot, 4 denotes a guide pin, 5 denotes a guide pin hole, and 6 denotes a clamp spring. This MT type optical connector has a structure in which a plurality of bare fibers 7 exposed at the end of the optical fiber 1 are inserted and fixed in an optical fiber insertion hole 9 formed in a resin ferrule 2 molded using a precision mold. Has become. The optical fiber insertion hole 9 is opened at the joint end face 8 where the ferrule 2 is abutted, and the bare fiber 7 is precisely positioned flush with the joint end face 8. The guide pin hole 5 is extremely precise in the relative position and parallelism with respect to the optical fiber insertion hole 9, and the guide pin holes in both joint end faces 8 in which a pair of ferrules 2 oppose metal guide pins 4 having precise cylindrical side surfaces. The bare fibers 7 exposed on the joint end faces 8 of the two ferrules 2 are precisely positioned by being inserted so as to be bridged between 5 and 5. After the joining end faces 8 of the two ferrules 2 are brought into contact with each other, the clamp spring 6 is fitted between the rear end flange portions 10 of the two ferrules 2. The state is maintained, and a desired connection loss is stably secured between the butted bare fibers 7.

However, the MT type optical connector requires a special jig for attaching and detaching the clamp spring 6, and is therefore unsatisfactory in workability, and is capable of easily performing operations such as connection and connection switching. The development of a connector was required. Further, in order to prevent the ferrule 2 from being exposed, it is necessary to provide a protection means such as a cap,
There was dissatisfaction that handling was troublesome.

In view of the above problem, in recent years, the so-called M
A PO connector (an optical connector having a structure in which an optical connector ferrule defined in JIS C5981 or the like is housed in a housing) is provided. 7 and 8 show the MPO connector 11. In FIG. 8, this MPO
The connector 11 internally supports a ferrule 2 of an MT type optical connector and a pin clamp 12 for clamping the guide pin 4 on a rear end portion (right side in FIG. 8) of the ferrule 2 in a cylindrical housing 13. The rear end is internally supported by a cylindrical coupling 14, and a spring 15 for generating a butt force is accommodated in the coupling 14. The ferrule 2 is movable forward and backward (left and right in FIG. 8) in the housing 13, and the housing 13 is urged forward by a separately installed housing spring 16, and the ferrule 2 is connected to the MPO connector 1.
If the housing 13 does not follow the ferrule 2 and is located at the distal end of the MPO connector 11 when pushed into the back of the ferrule 2, the entire ferrule 2 enters the housing 13 and is protected. The housing 13 engages with the receiving housing such as the optical connector adapter 17 so that the engagement protrusion 13a protruding from the side portion is detachably engaged with the housing, thereby changing the insertion state of the MPO connector 11 inserted into the receiving housing. maintain.

[0005] According to the MPO connector 11, connection and switching between the optical fibers 1 can be easily performed simply by inserting and removing from the housing on the receiving side. Further, since the ferrule 2 is housed and protected in the housing 13, it is not necessary to separately take a protective means for the ferrule 2.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned MPO connector 11 has a complaint that the number of parts is large and the configuration is complicated, so that it takes time and effort to assemble and the cost is high. In addition, since the size of the optical connector is considerably larger than that of the MT type optical connector shown in FIG. 6, it is not suitable for high-density mounting on an apparatus, and there is a limit in improving the mounting density. Further, it is conceivable to adopt a structure in which the MPO connector 11 is divided into front and back sides in consideration of assemblability. However, in such a case, there is a problem that the holding strength of the ferrule 2 by the MPO connector 11 is reduced. Was. For this reason, the MPO connector 11 has not led to a fundamental solution to the problems of the MT optical connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. (A) The number of parts is small, the configuration is simple, and assembly is easy. (C) Cost reduction (d) Connection work can be performed without assembling the housing on one side of the pair of ferrules to be connected (e) Securely securing the ferrule holding strength It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector having an effect.

[0008]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical connector according to the first aspect of the present invention, comprising: An optical connector for optically joining fibers, one of the ferrules to be butt-connected is housed movably in the central axis direction, and the other ferrule is inserted into an insertion opening opened on the tip side, A holder for joining the ferrules in a state where the joining end faces of the ferrules are abutted to each other, wherein the holder has an outer housing formed in a tubular shape, and a storage space capable of storing one ferrule therein is formed; An inner housing provided with an urging means for urging the ferrule in a direction in which the ferrule abuts with the other ferrule. The inner claw is integrated by fitting the inner housing to the other ferrule. When the inner housing is joined to the other ferrule, the inner claw has an elastic claw that locks the ferrule and maintains the butted state of the ferrules. It is characterized by comprising a pair of half-split housing members that are formed and combined with each other to form the storage space in which the ferrule can be stored.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an optical connector according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the figure,
6 to 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals,
The description is omitted. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes an optical connector of the present embodiment. The optical connector 20 includes a holder 21 for housing the ferrule 2 and a plug 22.
It is composed of The holder 21 includes an outer housing 23 formed in a cylindrical shape, and an inner housing 24 fitted and attached from one side of the outer housing 23.
It is composed of

The inner housing 24 is formed of a housing member 25 formed in half, and provided with an urging means 26 made of a coil spring or the like. Elastic claws 27 protruding and extending in the joining direction with the plug 22 are formed on the housing member 25 constituting the inner housing 24. The housing member 25 and the elastic claw 27 are integrally formed of a resin such as plastic, which is easily formed. Ferrule housing grooves 28 are formed on the surfaces of the housing members 25 facing each other. When the housing members 25 are assembled by abutting each other, the ferrule housing grooves 28 of the respective housing members 25 are inserted into the housing members 25. An elongated rectangular cylindrical storage space is formed. The ferrule 2 is stored in the storage space, and the ferrule 2 stored in the storage space is urged forward by the urging means 26. Also, the inner housing 24
Are formed with locking claws 29 whose front side is connected to the front and back surfaces and whose rear end side is projected outward.

The rear end of the inner housing 24 has
When the inner housing 24 is inserted into the outer housing 23, a retaining piece 30b is formed which fits into the notch 30a of the outer housing 23.
0b to the inner housing 2 to the outer housing 23
4 is prevented from being inserted too much. The ferrule 2 housed in the inner housing 24 is provided with a pin clamp 31 formed in a half-split shape on the rear end side. This pin clamp 31
Are provided with guide pins 4 inserted into guide pin holes 5 formed on both sides of the ferrule 2. That is, with the pin clamp 31 inserted into the guide pin hole 5 of the ferrule 2, the pin clamp 31 is attached to the rear end of the ferrule 2, and the tip of the guide pin 4 is connected to the ferrule 2. Are projected from the joint end face 8.

The outer housing 23 is formed in an elongated rectangular tube shape, and the inner housing 24 is inserted from one side of the outer housing 23 and the plug 22 is inserted from the other side. This outer housing 23
On the front and back near the one end where the internal housing 24 is inserted, a locking window 32 into which the locking claw 29 of the internal housing 24 is fitted is formed.
2 is fitted to the locking claw 29, so that the locking claw 29
The rear end of the inner housing 24 is locked to the rear edge of the locking window 32 to prevent the inner housing 24 from slipping out.
In the outer housing 23, windows 33 are formed on both sides at an intermediate portion thereof, and a wall 34 is formed inside the window 33 along the longitudinal direction. Then, a part of the ferrule 2 to be joined to each other is inserted between the wall portions 34 so as to abut each other. Further, a fixing flange 35 for fixing the external housing 23 to a supporting member (not shown) such as a terminal plate is provided so as to protrude from an outer surface of a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the outer housing 23.

The plug 22 is composed of a pair of plug members 41 formed in a left-right half-shape. The rear end of the ferrule 2 is inserted into a holding recess 42 formed in the plug member 41 constituting the plug 22. The side flange 10 is fitted. That is, these plug members 41
By fitting the plug members 41 to each other while fitting the flange 10 of the ferrule 2 into the holding recess 42 of the ferrule 2, the plug 22 can be assembled in a state where the tip of the ferrule 2 projects from the tip. Has become. The plug 22 has engagement holes 43 formed on both sides thereof.
3 includes elastic claws 2 formed on the inner housing 24.
7 comes in. And like this,
When the elastic claws 27 of the internal housing 24 are inserted into the engagement windows 43 of the plug 22, the joining end faces 8 of the ferrule 2 held by the plug 22 and the ferrule 2 held by the internal housing 24 abut against each other, and the joining end faces 8
The core wires of the optical fiber 1 exposed to the optical fiber are optically joined to each other.

At this time, the guide pins 4 protruding from the joint end faces 8 of the ferrules 2 housed in the inner housing 24 are fitted into the guide pin holes 5 of the ferrules 2 held by the plugs 22, so that these ferrules are formed. The two are positioned with high precision.
The plug member 41 constituting the plug 22 is formed with a cable groove 44 serving as an insertion hole through which the optical fiber 1 is inserted during assembly.

When the optical fibers 1 are joined to each other by the optical connector 20 having the above-described configuration, first, the ferrule 2 with the pin clamp 31 is inserted from one end of the outer housing 23, and the tip of the ferrule 2 is The outer housing 23 is fitted between the walls 34 (FIG. 3).
reference). In this state, on the rear side of the ferrule 2, the inner housing 24 is assembled by combining the housing members 25, and the inner housing 24 is inserted into the outer housing 23 together with the urging means 26 (see FIG. 4). . In this manner, the elastic claws 27 of the inner housing 24 enter the outside of the wall 34 of the outer housing 23, and when further inserted, the elastic claws 27
4 is provided on the other end side of the outer housing 23 (see FIG. 5).

Next, the plug 22 holding the ferrule 2 is inserted through an insertion opening 23a formed at the other end of the outer housing 23. By doing so, this plug 2
2 is inserted between the wall portions 34 of the outer housing 23, and the guide pin 4 protruding from the joint end face 8 of the ferrule 2 stored in the inner housing 24 is stored in the plug 22. The ferrule 2 is inserted into the guide pin hole 5, and the joining end faces 8 of the ferrule 2 are positioned and abutted. Further, the elastic claws 27 of the inner housing 24 enter into the engaging windows 43 formed on both sides of the plug 22, and the rear ends of the flange 10 of the ferrule 2 are locked by the elastic claws 27 (FIG. 2). As a result, the ferrule 2 housed in the inner housing 24 and the ferrule 2 housed in the plug 22 are moved by the urging force of the urging means 26.
The respective joint end faces 8 are joined in abutted state, and the optical fibers 1 are optically joined to each other.

As described above, according to the optical connector 20 having the above-described structure, the holder 21 in which the inner housing 24 is fitted into the outer housing 23 to be integrated, and the outer housing 23 forming the holder 21 Insertion slot 23a
And the plug 22 which is locked by the elastic claw 27 and joined in a state where the joint end surfaces 8 of the respective ferrules 2 abut against each other by the urging force of the urging means 26 in the inner housing 24. With this configuration, the structure of the entire connector can be simplified, thereby reducing the number of components, facilitating manufacturing, and reducing costs. Therefore, the size of the optical connector 20 can be easily reduced, and the mounting density in optical devices can be improved. Also, by simply inserting and removing the plug 22 from the holder 21, the ferrules 2 can be connected and disconnected easily and in a short time, thereby improving the workability such as connection switching.

Moreover, since the inner housing 24 formed in a half-split shape in consideration of assemblability is fitted and integrated into the outer housing 23, the strength of the inner housing 24 can be increased. In other words, a sufficient strength can be ensured even if the ferrule 2 is split in half, and the ferrule 2 can be securely stored and biased in the internal storage space.
6 can reliably supply the urging force to the ferrule 2. Thereby, the joined state of the butted ferrules 2 can be reliably and accurately maintained.

In the above example, the plug 22 holds the other ferrule 2 to be joined to the one ferrule 2 housed in the holder 21.
The other ferrule 2 may be directly inserted between the wall portions 34 of the outer housing 23 forming the first housing 1, and the flange 10 may be locked by the elastic claws 27 to be joined to the one ferrule 2 on the holder 21 side. . That is, according to the optical connector 20 having the above structure, the ferrule 2 can be joined to each other only by the holder 21 without the plug 22, so that the components can be simplified.

[0020]

As described above, according to the optical connector of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the optical connector of the first aspect, the optical connector has a holder in which the inner housing is fitted to the outer housing and integrated, and the other ferrule is inserted into the insertion opening of the holder so that the other ferrule is inserted. Since the joint end faces of the ferrules are engaged with each other in a state where they are abutted against each other by the urging force of the urging means in the inner housing, the structure of the entire connector can be simplified. Thus, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, facilitate manufacturing, and reduce costs. Therefore, it is possible to easily reduce the size of the optical connector, and to improve the mounting density of the optical connector. Also, just insert and remove the other ferrule to be joined to the holder,
The ferrules can be connected and disconnected easily and in a short time, thereby improving workability such as connection switching. Moreover, since the inner housing formed in a half-split shape in consideration of the assemblability is fitted into and integrated with the outer housing, the strength of the inner housing can be increased. In other words, sufficient strength can be ensured even if it is split in half, and secure storage of the ferrule in the internal storage space and supply of the urging force to the ferrule by the urging means can be reliably ensured. Thereby, the joined state of the butted ferrules can be reliably and accurately maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an optical connector illustrating a configuration and a structure of an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector illustrating the configuration and structure of the optical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the holder for explaining how to assemble the holder used in the optical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the holder for explaining how to assemble the holder used in the optical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the holder for explaining how to assemble the holder used in the optical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an optical connector of a conventional example, and shows an MT.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the optical connector.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an optical connector of a conventional example, wherein MP
It is a perspective view which shows an O connector.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a conventional optical connector, and
It is sectional drawing of an O connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber, 2 ... Ferrule, 8 ... Joining end surface, 20 ... Optical connector, 21 ... Holder, 23 ... External housing, 23a ... Insertion port, 24 ... Internal housing, 25 ... Housing Member, 26 ... urging means, 2
7. Elastic claws.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshikazu Nomura 1440 Mutsuzaki, Sakura-shi, Chiba Prefecture Fujikura Sakura Plant

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical connector (20) that optically joins the optical fibers by abutting the joining end surfaces (8) of a pair of ferrules (2) in which the tips of the optical fibers (1) are mounted and fixed. ), One of the ferrules to be butt-connected is housed movably in the center axis direction, and the insertion opening (23) opened at the distal end side.
a) is provided with a holder (21) that inserts the other ferrule so that the joining end faces of the ferrules abut against each other, wherein the holder has a cylindrical outer housing ( 2
3) and an internal housing (24) in which a storage space capable of storing one ferrule is formed, and an urging means (26) for urging the ferrule in the direction of abutment with the other ferrule is provided. The inner housing is integrated by fitting the inner housing to the outer housing. When the inner housing is joined to the other ferrule, the inner housing locks the ferrule to bring the ferrules into contact with each other. An elastic claw (27) to be maintained is formed, and is constituted by a pair of half-split housing members (25) in which the storage space capable of storing the ferrule is formed by combining with each other. Optical connector.